Pumping mechanism



May 2, 1950 A. A. QUIMPER 2,506,434

PUMPING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 18, 1946 1 INVENTOR fl nt bony/ L. Qmmper ATTORNEY Patented May 2, 1950 nera; a Q

'ZIUMPINQ MEoHAN-IsM i sAnthmir A- Quimner; W fi d Mass-, ass uerto Westin house El ie (ierpo ation, East Pitts :hrgh, (Ra-,7 a eorpem u of Pennsylvania gApp liea tion January 18, 1-946, serial-No. 642,043

1 This invention 'relates --to pumps and particularly to a pump designed for the purpose of pumping predetermined quantities of: syrup'from a container thereof into a mixing chamber or vessel in which the syrup is diluted with a pre- "determined quantity of water or other diluent for beverage purposes.

-' The pump 'ma'de-' ac-cord-ing' to this "invention is-particularly adapted-for use in an automatic 'dispensingmac-hine wherethe pumping mech-- anism'isunder control of an automatic timing r levlc'e, although it will be apparent from the jollowing description that in certain aspects the ipnmpingmeehanism is adaptable to more genieralqpump purposesobject of the invention is to provide a novel anduseful pumping mechanism of the character described.

"More particularly an object is to provide a pumping mechanism adapted ,to be disposed in a "body of refrigerated syrup maintained at a suitably contro led temp ratur with l h workin parts of the pu p i cl di the valve mechanisms disposed in the pump b dy so ha th entire pumning m ehan sm is mainta ned a a uniformly low temperature. This i particular y important ensurin the dispensing of va eons ant qua ity o-i sy up at each di pens n stro e-as thenuantity i syrup-dispensed aries with its viscosity which is in turn afiected by temperature- Another object is to proyide an improved flexible diaphragm "for a'pump -of the character 'idescribed.

Still another object is to provide a simplified valv meehanisrni r SLIQh a ump.-

Another object is to provide a pumping mechanism which can be readily assembled and disiassembled jor cleaning and repair.

a ,A' further object-is to provideapumpingmechanism, the major parts'of which can be made from bar stock on screw machines.

- The pump shown in the drawings twiee 1 the actual 'size of the-pump as it was :buiit.

The'main pump body isindicated at HI. This maybe east and machined .or may be turned out of bar stock on a screw-machine. "Itsmain por- -tions comprise "a generally. cylindricalzmiddle chamber i, an enlarged and slightly'fiared'ppper chamber 12, a generally cylindrical lower chamber l3, and an apertured portioni-flibetween the lower chamber 3' and the middle chamber H,

Thepump is-ofrthediaphragm type,':'.-the

phra-gm 15 being clamped'between;a'z flange ii provided on the upper end of the .mainrpump body IE3 and a flange l1 provided OHthBuClOSHEQ'ICQP l 8. The pump body and the closure cap are held together by a pluralityofpirmmrierentiallyspaced screws, one of which is-shownat19:.v The central portion of diaphragm i5 :is supported loy-and clamped between anu-pperplate or washer 2-0 and a lower plate ornutrzl iby' a screw 22.

The top wall of cap it iscurved upwardly as shownto provide aeham'ben .23 above the diaphragm for receiving "the-impelling medium which discharges the contents -.of the pump "by depressing the diaphragm. 'Gentrallyctheicap 418 is provided with a depending-flange.'todimit upward movement of the diaphragm under "the influence of spring -25 when the I pressure 0f the impeliing mediumis-reliev-ed irom rthe chamber 23. Theimpell-i-ng medium which may rho-liquid or gas under pressure is suppliedto chamber :23

from a suitable source through ran-zapertured eoupling member '26; Preferably, plate "20 has" concentrie rings =21 embossed on its under sur- -f ace to provide a good seal between theplate-and the ilexible diaphragm.

The diaphragm I5 is preferably made-of rubber or an equivalent flexible and-resilientm'aterial initiallymolded into the shape shown in 'Fig. ;1. flhus, when the pump is static, as shown, the diaphragm is notdistorted and thereby subjected t forcesieading to creasing and cracking. It

should be noted that-the central portion-'28 of As has been stated, the pumping mechanism is preferably immersed in the liquid to be pumped. A portion of a syrup tank is indicated by a side wall 32 and a bottom wall 33. The intake of syrup to the pump is through a screen 34, a substantially horizontal passageway 35 and a vertical portion 35 past inlet check valve 31 to the chamber The discharge from chamber H is through four spaced vertical ports 38 leading to a common chamber 39, then through port 45, past outlet check valve 4| into chamber l3, and then through port 42 into chamber 43 and out discharge conduit 44.

Referring to the inlet check valve 31 and its cooperating parts, there is provided a seat in the form of a rubber or rubber-like disc 45 having four apertures 46 to coincide with the vertical discharge ports 38 and a central aperture forming the intake port 36 on the edges of which ball 31 seats tightly on the discharge stroke of the pump. The disc 45 is centered by a projection 41 near its periphery which extends into an aperture 48 formed in the pump body. Movement of the ball valve 31 is restrained by a cage 49 pro vided with-apertures 50 through which syrup may flow into the chamber I I, and having a horizontal flange provided with four openings 52 corresponding to and aligned with the openings 46 in disc 45 and with the discharge ports 38. The cage 49 is properly aligned by lugs 60 which fit into diametrically opposite recesses 6| formed at the periphery of disc 45. I have found that a ball 31 made of glass is very satisfactory for the purpose described although other materials may be used.

Now referring to the discharge valve 4| and its associated parts, a ring 53 of the general shape shown is pressed into the lower part of the pump body. Centrally, this ring carries the discharge port 4|]. The discharge check valve 4| seats against the projecting rim 54 formed around port ed so that it becomes easily accessible for cleaning and repairs.

The operation of the pump is believed apparent from the foregoing description but will be briefly summarized. It is primarily intended for use in a one shot system, that is, where the requisite volume of syrup for each drink is discharged on a single downstroke of the diaphragm. Assuming that a suitable mechanism has been actuated 5 to admit fluid under pressure to the upper side of the diaphragm the diaphragm moves downward- -ly, forcing syrup through ports 38 into chamber 39 through port 40 and past check valve 4| into chamber l3, through ports 42 into chamber 43 and out conduit 44 to the mixing chamber or vessel (not shown). During this operation ball check valve 31 is firmly seated.

When the pressure is relieved on diaphragm I5, as by a suitable timing mechanism, the spring 25 forces the diaphragm up to the position shown in Fig. 1 and simultaneously, valve 4| seats while valve 31 is unseated by the incoming syrup which flows into chamber whereupon the pump is ready for the next dispensing operation. The amount of syrup discharged on a single stroke of the diaphragm depends on the pressure applied and the duration of its application.

It will be apparent from the foregoing descrip tion that the invention provides a simple, compact, rugged and readily assembled pump, particularly useful for the purpose described but also capable of other applications.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without de parting from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

In a pump of the type having a pressure-re sponsive operating member, the combination of a main pump body, an intake valve assembly dis posed in the body axially thereof, said intake valve assembly comprising a valve member normally seated by gravity, a discharge valve assembly also disposed in the pump body below and in vertical alignment with the intake valve assembly, said pump body having an inlet port located in a side wall of the pump body between the inlet and discharge valve assemblies, said discharge valve assembly comprising a seat member .close- 1y fitting the lower interior wall of the pump body, said seat member being provided with a port centrally thereof, a discharge valve member cooperating with said port on the lower side thereof, a retainer ring having a close fit with the lower interior Wall of the pump body, said retainer ring having at least one port therethrough through which the contents of the pump are discharged when the discharge valve member is opened under pressure, said. port being substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the main pump body, and spring means disposed between the retainer ring and the discharge valve member to normally seat said member.

ANTHONY A. QUIMPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

